Programs and Activities » Mandarin Immersion Program » Program Application Information

Program Application Information

Update: Thank you to all the families who applied for Phase 1 of the Mandarin Immersion program. The enrollment window officially closed on Friday, January 16, 2026. We are currently reviewing all applications.  All applicant families will receive an email notification regarding their application status on Friday, January 30, 2026. 

 
For those who missed the Phase 1 deadline or are still interested in joining the Mandarin Immersion program, we strongly encourage you to apply for our waitlist. The waitlist application will become available on our website starting Monday, February 2, 2026. Being on the waitlist ensures you will be considered if a spot becomes available.
 
Waitlist Application opens on Monday, February 2, 2026: https://ams.powayusd.com/ABES

 

TK Registrations: Please note that the Adobe Bluffs office does not process TK registrations. Registration for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is handled directly by the district. For enrollment details and applications, please visit the district website at: https://www.powayusd.com/apps/pages/transitional-kindergarten
 

📌 2026-2027 School Enrollment Meeting:

  • Join us on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 2:30 PM in the Multipurpose Room. A classroom tour will follow immediately after the meeting. (Please note, this is an adults-only event, so we kindly ask families to arrange childcare in advance. Thank you!)
  • After January 8, 2026, click here for the Kinder Immersion Information Session slide deck.

 

📌 Key Dates to Remember:

  • Interest/Application Form Deadline: All submissions must be completed by Friday, January 16, 2026. Entries received after this date will automatically be added to the wait list.
  • Application Notifications: Families will be notified of application status on Friday, January 30, 2026.
  • Lottery Date (if required): A lottery will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026.
  • Continuing PUSD Student Registration: From March 2 to March 31, all parents whose current students will continue in Poway Unified for the 2026-27 school year need to complete online continuing registration. 
  • New PUSD Student Enrollment: Opens on February 2 at 8:00 am on the Poway Unified website. 

 

📌 Application Ranking Priority:

  1. Students residing within the Adobe Bluffs attendance area
  2. Students with siblings in the Immersion Program
    • Students who live in PUSD's attendance area and have siblings in the Immersion Program
    • Students who live outside of PUSD's attendance area and have siblings in the Immersion Program
  3. PUSD students who attended Adobe Bluffs TK
  4. Children of PUSD employees working more than 50% of the school year
  5. Students residing within PUSD’s attendance area
  6. Students who attended Adobe Bluffs TK via Inter-District Transfer
  7. Students living outside PUSD’s attendance area

 

📌 Important Information for Transfer Students:

Students transferring after kindergarten must meet one of the following criteria to enroll in the immersion program:

  • Attended a Mandarin immersion program at another school or 
  • Demonstrated proficiency in Mandarin at a comparable level (assessment required)

Students who do not meet these requirements will not be eligible to join the immersion program beyond the 1st-grade first semester.

 

📌 Program Commitment and Transfer Guideline:

When parents choose to enroll their students in the Mandarin Immersion Program, we strongly encourage a K-12 long-term commitment to ensure their student has the most enriching and effective learning experience possible. Language immersion is a cumulative process, and consistent participation over time is essential for students to fully develop their language skills and benefit from the program. Regular and consistent student attendance is critical for success, as it allows students to stay on track with their peers and maximize their learning potential.

 

To maintain an optimal educational environment for both students and teachers, we generally discourage mid-year transfers between programs. Such transfers can be disruptive not only to the transferring student but also to the receiving classroom, as it may take time for the student to adjust to a new learning environment, teaching style, or peer group. Furthermore, if your student is on an Inter- or Intra-District Transfer (IDT), please be aware that leaving immersion programs may result in the loss of IDT approval, as the transfer is tied to specialized program participation.

 

We deeply value the commitment and dedication of families to this program and appreciate your understanding in helping us create a stable, supportive, and enriching learning environment for all students. If you have any questions or concerns about this guideline, please feel free to reach out to our program administrators for further clarification.

 

📌All student immunizations must be completed prior to the start of the school year.

📌 If you have any questions about the program, please contact our Mandarin Teacher on Special Assignment, Ms. Julie Li, at [email protected].